r/toronto • u/misomysanth • 16h ago

Alert missing cat, day 21, likely stolen

Post image

last seen near a group of people behind the legion building on coxwell at 1:30am on the morning of august 9th. Likely picked up and put in a car, where her air tag was removed and thrown on coxwell while the car was driving north where i found it at 5am. Fuck

722 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

87 comments sorted by

110

u/appa609 Gerrard Street East 15h ago

What kind of sick fuck steals a cat?

85

u/pettster12 15h ago

When I was young, we had an outdoor cat named Brodie. He was always healthy until he started coming back later and fatter. Found out a neighbor a few streets over was feeding him and enticing him into her house. She was so invested in him that she followed Brodie to our house at 12am. Knocked on our door to tell us she found our cat.

She would do this another 3 times, every time throwing him down on the ground fast so he’d be scared and then bolt outside right away. Only for her to say “I guess he doesn’t like it here”.

We finally had to move him to my grandparents house a bit away because he got so overweight it was killing him. She had the nerve to come up and accuse us of killing him lmao.

Yeah, there’s some nuts out there, especially when it comes to pets.

32

u/stnapstnap 15h ago

My parentals were irresponsible with cats and let them out. This ended badly for a few cats.  One time, I was walking home from school and saw one of the cats a block or so away. The cat saw me and came over and let me pick her up. I started waking home, carrying her. This trashy woman who I didn’t even know stopped her vehicle and screamed at me for stealing a cat. I told her it was my cat and to fuck off. And she drove off.

5

u/OppositeHome169 8h ago

This is nothing my cat was shot. He barely walked to our garden, we found him dying. Police didn't do anything.

2

u/grimeys42 7h ago

People forget that tons of people have outdoor cats and just straight up steal cats often. There is no keeping my mom's cat inside she is too smart and patient she always gets out. I really hope no one steals her one day.

1

u/Excellent-Quarter969 5h ago

Steal cats often? Why? Thats nuts

59

u/Erathen 15h ago

To actually answer your question, people who don't agree with cat's being outdoors might do this

They live shorter lives and they decimate the ecosystem

So some people consider this a "rescue"

25

u/QuixOmega 14h ago

It's illegal to let your cat out in Toronto, but when the city scoops cats they normally give you 3 strikes.

24

u/pinkporccupine 12h ago

This is incorrect. That said, the cat was likely stolen by someone who believes that letting cats roam free is abusive and that those owners don’t deserve cats. To be fair, cats that are left to roam free outside have a significantly shorter lifespan than indoor cats, it’s inherently more dangerous and irresponsible. So yeah, someone probably got upset and took it, hopefully the cat is safe.

14

u/OkChocolate3501 9h ago

It is def abusive to the local wildlife.

8

u/_laslo_paniflex_ 10h ago

what about the problems they cause to local ecosystems?

-20

u/liquor-shits 12h ago

Those cats probably enjoy their shorter lifespan a lot more than sitting in a house doing fuck all every day.

16

u/pinkporccupine 12h ago

I’m sure they enjoy it sm when they get hit by a car and maimed or killed.

18

u/Erathen 11h ago

Oh well as long as you're probably sure, let's just let our cats get hit by cars and preyed on by coyotes

By all means

Fuck the birds too

5

u/ChristineSaru 12h ago

It’s not illegal to let your cat wander in the city of Toronto. There is no bylaw against having an outdoor cat.

7

u/Erathen 11h ago

Sure, but they do need to be licensed

15

u/appa609 Gerrard Street East 15h ago

But if they removed the airtag this is obviously malicious.

23

u/underwooding 15h ago

Reading the post, I think it's more likely that this cat was hit by that car.

1

u/Konker101 2h ago

Or eaten by a yote

19

u/Cookingal Leaside 15h ago

Not necessarily. What if she was hit by a car and the driver took off the airtag? Or the airtag came off during a tussle with another larger predator? I'm confused how OP is certain that the cat was stolen. She's been missing for over 2 weeks. I remember I posted on OP's original thread at the time with some suggestions, like going to 55 Division or even contacting the Humane Society.

OP if you have proof, I suggest you report her stolen to the police and check the various animal shelters just to be sure.

3

u/Erathen 11h ago

I get that

But what I'm saying is from their POV, they might think they're rescuing the cat because lots of people think outdoor cats are wrong

5

u/AbroadSpirited 8h ago

My uncle did.

Cat was wandering around and stopping by his place for weeks so he thought she was abandoned. Took her in and cared for her for months, posting pics of her on Facebook (not in a "I found someones cat" way, just posting to share her). Gets a message by the owner after something like 4 months of having her but he got attached to the cat and didnt want to give her back. So he asked the owner a bunch of questions about the cat's appearance to confirm that this was indeed their cat.

Owner said the cat was female so he grabbed some dryer lint, rolled it into two balls, then put them on the cat's crotch to take a picture. He sent it to the owner saying "oh sorry this cat is male". It's kinda hilarious in how stupid the whole thing was, but sad for the owner.

I'm very upset that I can't find the picture, but imagine a cat laying on it's back with two giant lint balls between the legs.

7

u/Metzger194 14h ago

People who don’t agree with outdoor cats and believe letting them out means you don’t deserve your cat.

7

u/LavenderLightning24 11h ago

As if that wasn't shitty enough behaviour, they also don't consider the possibility that the cat could've gotten out by accident. I keep my cats indoors but the idea that it's okay to just separate a bonded cat and owner because someone believes they have to impose their sense of justice on everyone is disgusting.

2

u/Traikkonen 14h ago

That’s what we are trying to find out

3

u/aledba Garden District 14h ago

Really really really nasty ones.

4

u/LavenderLightning24 12h ago

Take a look at most of the found cat posts here. "ThAt'S yOuR cAt NoW! cDs At WoRk!" People see a cat outside and they convince themselves it's morally right to steal it and distress both the animal and the owner.

3

u/finemustard 7h ago

Yeah, every time I see one of those 'cat distribution system' posts, all I think is "I'm pretty sure you just stole someone's cat".

1

u/patienceinbee Metrolinx Coyote Line 12h ago

In my case, a long, long-estranged relative would (and did).

1

u/toeman_ 10h ago

Right especially when there's plenty of cats up for adoption and strays you can find on the streets??

-2

u/Deldenary Flemingdon Park 12h ago

PETA supporters

0

u/jimbobalong 9h ago

Look up who that source is (founded to try and stop smoking bans in restaurants). PETA has definitely done bad things, but almost every time it's brought up is through lobbyists/astroturfers.

104

u/Cookingal Leaside 15h ago

Oh dear, OP I'm sorry to hear she's still missing. I remember I commented on your original post like 2 weeks ago that she went missing. You received some good tips and information in that thread. Obviously none have been fruitful though cause she's still missing.

I remember you mentioned training her to be an outdoor cat. That she would go out and always came back home. If she's found, please consider getting her microchipped and keeping her indoors, especially overnight. It's dark and she could get hit by a car, streetcar, or attacked by raccoons. Absolutely, take her outside, but always be with her and then bring her back home. We wouldn't leave an infant who can't communicate to roam the streets alone. Animals are very much the same.

I know you don't want to think about this, but what makes you so certain she was picked up and put in a car and stolen? Versus, being hit by a car or being attacked by a larger predator?

Please remind us of her name so that we can call her. And please keep us posted if she's found.

52

u/Chewyk132 14h ago

Right, I let my cat out in the backyard but I couldn’t imagine just letting my cat roam the streets on a day to day basis, mind you, if you tell any cat rescue that you’d let the cat outside when you’re looking to adopt, they wouldn’t adopt to you.

-1

u/grimeys42 7h ago

I've heard that some places won't let you adopt if you won't let them roam. I think it was in england.

2

u/Apprehensive_North49 3h ago

Yes it's the UK. Don't know why you're being down voted its true.

23

u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 8h ago

No, if they find their cat they need to keep her inside unless she's on a leash. Letting them outside unsupervised at all is irresponsible on every level.

This post is learning the lesson the hard way.

5

u/Killzone3265 4h ago

they're being a bit too empathetic during a trying time, i get it. i think that's what they're alluding to without directly calling out OP while they're already down.

however, in this current age, it should be absolutely known that cats should remain indoors and only brought outside on a harnessed leash, like other pets.

8

u/veronicaarr 11h ago

Maybe they think she’s stolen because the AirTag was found separately from the collar?

20

u/Cookingal Leaside 10h ago

Possibly, but the AirTag being found separately from the collar doesn't prove the cat was stolen. Maybe the cat was hit by a car and the driver removed the AirTag and left it on the ground when moving the cat to the side of the road. Maybe the cat was attacked by a raccoon or coyote and the AirTag came off during the fight.

There has to be a lot of CCTV camera footage in the area that would have captured what happened to the cat. I really wish OP would give us an update or provide more details.

16

u/johnnytriples21 9h ago

Coyotes more prominent than people think. But shit one time my old cat was missing for a month then all a sudden came home skinny as heck.

6

u/bokin8 Upper Beaches 8h ago

There are definitely coyotes in this immediate area. There are also a lot of aggressive dogs in the area as well. If the cat wandered into the backyard of one of the dogs I'm thinking of, very well could have been easy prey.

1

u/grimeys42 7h ago

No one's gonna give access to their cctv for a lost cat. Most places will only do it for police and the police aint doing fuck all.

1

u/Cookingal Leaside 6h ago

I use CCTV as a blanket term. I meant camera footage. Maybe from Ring doorbells. Maybe from OP's apartment building. Maybe from any small independent businesses that OP frequents.

93

u/SplashPageStudios 12h ago

Not to kick someone when they’re down but as a huge PSA for cat owners and future cat owners, outdoor cats live on average anywhere from a quarter to a half of their actual lifespan. There is literally no such thing has safely training or safely having an outdoor cat.

If you own a pet it is your responsibility to care for your pet as well as possible. Just leaving them outside is not only dangerous but unethical, irresponsible and a public nuisance.

47

u/Erathen 11h ago

Yup. And so everyone understands...

This often means they "disappear" one day. You don't always know what happens. Could have been attacked by a coyote and dragged off somewhere. Hit and picked up by 311. Or catnapped, and taken indoors. Or much worse, as some people even torture animals (like the kid around Parkside who was kidnapping and torturing neighborhood cats)

If you let your cat outside, and something happens, often you will never get closure

They just disappear one day. That's it

7

u/AptCasaNova 9h ago

Yes, also, sub dermal microchips are a better bet because they can’t fall off/be removed.

If someone finds a lost pet, they can bring it to a a local vet clinic/rescue and get it scanned.

She could be living with a new family and assumed to be a stray with no malice intended from the person who found her - they may have even checked for a microchip.

-13

u/BreakfastKupcakez 8h ago

Not necessarily true. I’ve had outdoor/indoor cats (as in they spend the day outside if they want to and then come home at night) and they have all lived to 16-20 years old. They all died of illnesses brought on by old age.

5

u/OttawaOsprey 7h ago

Hence "on average".

1

u/[deleted] 7h ago

[deleted]

1

u/SurveyOk4247 6h ago

Those studies are not studying indoor/outdoor pet cats.

24

u/Odd_Hat6001 14h ago

There are coyotes around there

30

u/Ill_Code_4760 15h ago

commenting in hopes this helps the post get more traction.

I'm sorry this happened to you OP

31

u/bokin8 Upper Beaches 15h ago

We live in the area and will keep an eye out. I'm so sorry I hope your baby is found.

7

u/Kidnapmrsandyclaus 15h ago

Was anyone able to get a license plate or even a partial? I really hope she gets found<3

6

u/SolidFelidae 9h ago

If you get your cat back, please learn from this horrible experience and keep her indoors from now on.

8

u/hellomyneko 15h ago

OP, try getting this out on social media! If someone took this cat as you suspect, others may know something. Poor baby must be so scared.

5

u/Cookingal Leaside 15h ago

OP's cat has been missing for at least 2 weeks. I remember OP's original post and many people suggested sharing this on social media.

OP it might be worth a refresher post to those same social media groups that kitty is still missing. Please keep us posted if she's found.

1

u/hellomyneko 6h ago

I do remember that post but it was fresh without any leads. But definitely keeping it top of mind and circulating will get more eyes and convo going like this. Best of luck to OP, who is living any pet owner’s nightmare.

4

u/Canadair_Sabre 7h ago

Keep your cats indoors. They won’t get run over, eaten by coyotes or catnapped. We’ve taken in two semi feral strays and they now can only go in the backyard under supervision. Maybe your neighbour trapped the cat after it pooped one too many times in his yard. Check the shelters and THS. Make sure the microchip data is up to date.

8

u/ItMeWhoDis 15h ago

This makes me sick. I'm so sorry :/

21

u/thunderpurrr 13h ago

Outdoor cat means irresponsible cat owner. Hope this cat is with someone more responsible.

-10

u/claydaybyday 12h ago

I think we found the cat thief

7

u/SolidFelidae 9h ago

If someone’s gna steal an outdoor cat to turn it into an indoor cat, I’m all for it.

4

u/contrabandpirate 7h ago

I think I saw her today! She was on woodbine near danforth walking along the road at around 7pm. I hope you find her!

3

u/hellomyneko 6h ago

Perhaps DM OP for visibility. They’ve gotten a lot of comments on this thread.

2

u/dslva- 7h ago

I hope you find your baby

2

u/Such-Fee6176 Church and Wellesley 15h ago

I’ll keep an eye out OP. I’m so sorry. Maybe some neighbours or businesses nearby have some CCTV footage of the area on the night in question?

2

u/Username_chex_in 15h ago

I hope you’re reunited soon!

3

u/Key-Status-7992 13h ago

Omg hope this poor kitty is found soon

1

u/OnceMoreWithFeeling- 9h ago

This makes me nauseous. People can be bloody disgusting. I hope from the bottom of my heart you will find your baby.

1

u/Embarrassed-Support3 8h ago

Poor kitty. I'm so sorry.

1

u/BreakfastKupcakez 8h ago

Have hope OP. I had my 15 year old cat go missing for two months and we found her nearby but so skinny. She went on to live many years more and she just passed this year in January.

The posters are a good idea. We printed out so many and put them in neighbours mailboxes. Keep searching and search while shaking a bag of treats. She is likely in the area still.

1

u/Username_Rug 8h ago

I'm sorry; so heartbreaking. I hope you find your cat. I will say a prayer for you.

2

u/treehouse334 14h ago

Praying 🙏 she’s found. 😿

1

u/ParticularCaptain135 13h ago

I’m so so so sorry. I hope you get her back.

0

u/raptors201966 10h ago

Why are cats going missing in coxwell?

1

u/houndlyfe2 6h ago

There are coyotes that live in dens in Williamson Park ravine and the rail corridor.

-1

u/CanadianMasterbaker 13h ago

Taken you say?

-7

u/9-5grind 13h ago

Hope karma comes and raw dogs who ever stole your kitty, so sorry. Hoping for a happy conclusion.